Our War-Room has closed and the Atlanta Falcons are Off the Clock :up: ATLANTA FALCONS #003 Glenn Dorsey, DT, Louisiana State #034 Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware #037 Dan Connor, ILB, Penn State #048 Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue #068 Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas #098 Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina #103 Tyvon Branch, CB, Connecticut #138 Michael Grant, S, Arkansas #172 Brandon Keith, OL, Northern Iowa #212 Brad Roach, QB, Catawba #232 Curtis Johnson, OLB, Clark Atlanta Any Comments?
Outstanding draft. You used the Falcons picks very well--your first 5 picks are all possible opening-day starters, which is extremely rare. You also got some great value after Dorsey--Flacco, Connor, and Keller could all possiby go round 1 and Collins, Simpson, and Branch could all go round 2 or 3. I think Connor, Keller, and Branch were major steals where you got them. I don't know much about your last few picks, but I would be very happy if I was a Falcons fan. :up:
Without looking at the complete draft from everyone elses team yet this is going to be a hard draft to top.That is an amazing draft, if I was a Falcons fan I would sign for that draft right now. Props to WW85 for running another pretty much flawless mock draft. I always enjoy these.
My last Packers pick and overall pick in the 2008 Mock draft is up. A full synopsis of my Jets and Packers drafts are coming later today or tomorrow. This is my second year doing this and I gotta thank WW85. This guy has most likely not slept or had a social life in two weeks because of this mock draft and came through for all of us. He certainly came through in the clutch for me when I couldn't be at the computer for my posts. Thanks, WW85 for all your hard work and dedication to making this my second, and very fun mock draft. I sincerely look forward to next year's. Best, Adam
Adam, thanks for the kind words. I guess it's a labor of love, I really enjoy participating in these Mocks. My Wife and 2 young boys are understanding. I'm lucky I have internet access at work. It really hasn't taken up alot of time, just checking the Board alot more frequently than I'm use to. Thanks for your strong support of this draft, look forward to you being a GM next year......Pete
OK Guys....You better hope the Patsie don't have this good of a draft. I'm thrilled with my take.......... NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - WW85 #007 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn St. #062 Cliff Avril, DE/OLB, Purdue #069 Matt Forte', RB/FB, Tulane #094 Beau Bell, ILB, UNLV #129 Martin Rucker, TE, Mizzou #164 Mike McGlynn, OG/C, Pittsburgh #197 Bryan Kehl, LB, BYU #238 Lance Leggett, WR, Miami, Fl. Comments appreciated!!
Another great draft and I do hope the Pats don't have an actual draft as good as this one. I would love to see the Jets draft a couple of the guys you drafted for the Pats. I love Avril and would rather have him in the second than Gholston in the first. Beau Bell is another guy I would love to see the Jets draft. And Leggett is a great 7th round prospect, a guy that has potential to be a better NFL player then he was a college player. I was all set to select him for the Panthers in a couple spots.
Broncos are done for the draft and everyone is all smiles over the haul that they got. #012 Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St. #042 Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame #108 Lavelle Hawkins, WR, California #119 Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia #139 Jamar Adams, S, Michigan #148 Owen Schmitt, FB, West Virginia #183 Durant Brooks, P, Georgia Tech. #220 Cody Wallace, C, Texas A&M #227 Taylor Mehlhaff, K, Wisconsin I am super happy with this. Broncos get 5 starters who come in right away(Clady, Laws, Schmitt, Brooks and Mehlhaff) and guys like Slaton and Hawkins can compete for wide open spots(Injury to Marshall and Rod Smith's age). Both Adams and Wallace are going to be there, learning from their aged counterparts(Lynch and Nalen) and hopefully for Denver, these 2 guys would eventually take their place in the lineup. The lone thing I would take a stab at my draft would be the lack of getting themselves a ILB just for depth, but their lack of a 3rd round pick hurt that so I had to get selective for them.
Ok, so I figure a player-by-player breakdown and a general team breakdown is necessary to explain these two drafts. I loved this draft. Thanks to WW85 and everyone involved for keeping it going, especially in the later rounds. NEW YORK JETS ? My goal with the Jets was to build depth where necessary and to add one or two instant starters. I certainly think I achieved that. Since the Jets worked FA as much as they did, certain areas where they might have been weaker pre-free agency were dealt with and thus made my life a lot easier. I think I have immediate starters in Gholston, Hardy and potentially Zbikowski. #006 Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State ? Even though we have Calvin Pace, Gholston is still a perfect fit for this team. His combination of strength, size and speed make him ideal for the 3-4 scheme. I?m still worried about his ?give up attitude? we hear about but I think he?s worth the risk at number 6. Worst case scenario, he pushes Bryan Thomas off the starting roster and lights up our defense. #036 James Hardy, WR, Indiana ? We have been in need for a tall wide out since Keyshawn left town. Hardy has the size and speed we need. Coles isn?t getting younger, Stuckey and Smith are not the solutions we need and Cotchery isn?t a stretch the field kind of guy. Hardy can step in as an immediate starter. #102 Tom Zbikowski, DB, Notre Dame ? We all love this kid. He lights up the field with his leadership and vision. In the NFL he?s likely a nickel or ?tweener, playing between cornerback and safety. Abram Elam isn?t the answer. Zbikowski is a little too short for safety in the NFL which is what makes him a ?tweener, however I think he can step into some sort of a starting role. #113 Tashard Choice, RB, Georgia Tech ? Choice wasn?t my top choice at RB but by the time we got to this pick and this position, he was the best decision (I?ll avoid saying choice too many times). He?s more of a bruising back which we lack from Jones and Washington who are more finesse running backs and can really offer us an up-the-middle option. Yes I know we acquired Jesse Chatman in the off season, but he had good value. Also, Jones is getting old and Leon isn?t an every down back. We needed some youth. #171 Robert Felton, OG, Arkansas - Felton spent three years opening holes for McFadden and started all three years against top competition. The Jacob Bender experiment may turn out to be a flop in which case we need some youth behind Faneca. Also, Faneca loves to teach and this kid apparently has the tools you look for in a player. I don?t expect Felton to do more than ride the bench till Faneca retires but he?s a great developmental prospect. #211 Maurice Murray, DT/DE, New Mexico St. ? The one thing I avoided in this draft was a nasty 3-4 built DE. Murray was a DT in college but the conversion to DE seems natural for this scheme. He?s also a developmental prospect that could certainly pan out to be something good. In college he had a knack for getting behind the offensive line to wreck havoc in the backfield. GREEN BAY PACKERS ? My goal with the Packers was the essentially add depth and to bring in two key starters at DB and TE. The Packers were a solid team and the only reason they didn?t get to the Super Bowl was a stupid throw by Favre, so they didn?t have many needs but I did what I could. Also I wanted to build a solid pass rush and run stopping defense. Smith and Ikegwuonu are run stuffing defensive backs that can come into the box to get the QB. Fluellen and Oliver love to pass rush and Butler has a non stop motor who is a natural pass rusher with some serious versatility. #030 Reggie Smith, DB, Oklahoma ? Smith is building a lot of hype because of his versatility as being able to play both safety spots and also step in to play corner. This was essentially the reason I brought him in as a Packer. He is one of two players I see coming in as an immediate starter. #056 John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame ? Carlson is the second person I see as a starter. Losing Bubba Franks to the Jets was good for the Jets, but for the Packers it signaled another need. They do have Donald Lee who played great, however, got banged up towards the end and teams also knew to cover him more because of his effectiveness in the passing game. I know this because he was on my fantasy team and tore it up. Carlson can block and stretch the field to take pressure off Lee. Dual TE formations would be amazing with Lee and Carlson. #060 Chad Henne, QB, Michigan ? Henne is the Packers? insurance in case Aaron Rodgers bombs; which I don?t think he will. It?s just that simple. Hopefully they wont need him and he can be parlayed into a draft pick in two-three years. #091 Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech ? Strictly a developmental prospect. Both bookends of the Pack?s offensive line are entering their 10th seasons in the league. Brown is likely a RT in the NFL but can play LT and is here simply to learn and develop. #128 Andre Fluellen, DT, Florida State ? Losing Corey Williams to the Browns may have been a mistake but, thankfully a quality DT was available in Fluellen. The Pack still has Pickett and Harrell as their starters and Fluellen is providing necessary depth. Fluellen is also a good pass rusher who can get to the QB. See #237 for a better explanation. #135 Ezra Butler, LB, Nevada ? The Packers have Poppinga, Barnett and Hawk, one of the greatest linebacker trios in the league. Behind them, pretty much ZERO depth. Butler is versatile to play all three spots as a change of pace and in case of injury. Butler is also a high intensity player who can come in without losing a step if called upon. #162 Jack Ikegwuonu, CB, Wisconsin ? Had he come out last year he would?ve been a first rounder. His ACL injury screwed his value in this draft. In my opinion, I got a steal. Jack would get to learn behind two of the best corners in the league alongside with fellow rookie Reggie Smith. This would give him the time to contribute on special teams and to just learn and heal. By the time his learning and healing process is done, he can step in as the starter. #237 Adamm Oliver, DE, Georgia Tech ? The Giants taught us that a solid pass rush wins championships. Oliver can help build towards that. I don?t expect him to be a starter but I do expect him to come in as a situational pass rush player whose only goal is to bury the QB.
With my finals Eagles' pick I chose super sleeper Marcus Riley out of my alma mater, Fresno State. Riley is a SS/OLB 'tweener. If it wasn't for a serious knee injury against USC, Riley could've been drafted as high as round 4. One of the best hits you'll ever see, and the fact that Colt Brennan is the victim makes it even better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc2RqGAh5NQ
Very nice draft!!! Clady at #12 was a great value. Laws has been rising up the boards and had great workouts. No secret, Hawkins is one of my favorites. Lavelle has shown at the Senior Bowl and Combine he's the real deal and may be the best NFL WR to come out of Cali this year (you hear that DeSean???). Slaton may surprise and so he's worth a higher pick, should be a solid #2 option in the backfield. Very Solid draft!!
Warhound................I appreciate you're knowledge of the players and you're Team's needs. IMO, you're the research King in this forum. It's great see to the amount of work you put into this entire process. Even though I'm not a huge VG fan, you had to take the BPA with what was on the board. Hardy is my man.....I doubt he's going to be available now Malcolm Kelly is slipping. I love Tashard Choice.....should become a solid pro. TC and Cory Boyd are my 2 favorite Mid-Round RBs. Can't complain with your draft, great job....I might have looked for a true CB. IMO, your Packer draft is a Top 5 draft...I love all your players....Smith is going to be special. Henne at #60 is a STEAL. Speaking of stealing, you stole , Ezra Butler and Jack Ikegwuonu just before my Ram's picks. Top Notch Draft!!!!
Dorsey, Flacco, Connor, Keller, Collins, Simpson..........It's time to take off the Ski Mask, the robberry is over. Six Solid (Starters) picks in a row!!! Awesome Job, my friend. Top 5 draft!!
Love the first 3 picks Choice Im not real sure about I dont think we need to pick up a HB this year and everyone says Leon isnt an every down back and the same was said about Tiki and they were wrong. I would have liked to seen Brian Johnston from Gardner-Webb I think he will be a nice 3-4 OLB Felton I love imo a huge steal thought he could go as early as the 4th round I also like Murray he was imo a nice late round pick for a DT to DE conversion all in all i give it a 9.5 out of 10
I was actually eying Brian Johnston from Gardner-Webb and then someone stole him a few picks before I could get him. I don't think we have a glaring need at HB but as I said, Jones may not be the answer, Leon may not be a true every down back and jesse chatman isn't the answer. That's too many uncertainties for my liking and the value was there so I took Choice. Thanks for the comments.
